Why Amateur Radio?

Amateur Radio Introduction – Video

Video courtesy of Young Transmitters NZ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur Radio (sometimes known as “ham radio”) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics, computers and communication together. People use Amateur Radio sets to talk across town, around the world, and even into space, all without the use of Internet or cell phones.

It’s fun, educational, and can be a great lifeline during natural disasters when all other communication methods fail.

School Kids, College Students and Young Adults can also visit Young Transmitters NZ to obtain a better understanding of whats involved in Amateur Radio before contacting ZL2KB to get started.

Can anyone become an Amateur Radio operator?
The answer is Yes!
There are thousands of people involved in Amateur Radio from all around the world, and from all walks of life. These include people like Doctors, Police Officers, Students and Kids, Office Workers and even Movie Stars!
There are also no age or gender restrictions so anyone can join.

How much does it cost to become an Amateur Radio operator?
We provide all related course and reference materials to you Free of Charge.
However there is a once off fee of around $90 when you sit the exam. This is an NZART fee, and is to pay for the cost in obtaining an internationally recognised licence and call-sign as well as a 1 year membership to NZART.

Is the Exam hard?
The answer is No.
We will teach you everything you need to know to be able to pass the exam, and will even provide you with some practice exam papers before you sit the real thing.
All up, there are about 60 questions in the exam (pulled from a reserve of 600 questions), of which 40 must be correct.
The course and exam covers basic maths, electronics, and standard operating practices, and classes are generally run on a Tuesday night over a 4 week period. However other arrangements can be made to fit around you.

Once you pass the exam and have been granted your licence and call-sign, you can start to make contacts immediately.

Great, how do we get started?
You can email us or pop down to the Clubroooms to discuss what you would like to get out of Amateur Radio as a hobby. Clubrooms are open to the public on Saturday Mornings at 9.30am and are locate here.